[Dialogue] Nelson Holiday Greetings

[Jo Nelson]

December, 2006  
 
Greetings from the Nelsons.
 
In November 2005, Wayne traveled to Egypt, visiting old friends and
colleagues in Cairo, Bayad, and Minya.  His old friend Mahmoud, now a
professor at Minya University, and his family welcomed him as a brother. The
accomplishments of the people of Bayad in the 30 years since we worked there
are astonishing ­ the village and the monastery we lived in have been
transformed.  In early 2006, in addition to his work with ICA, he taught a
course in facilitation at a local community college for the second year. In
his ³spare² time, he has made another round of kitchen cabinets, this time
with stained glass doors of his own pattern.  Wayne also had a week¹s visit
with his family over American Thanksgiving.
 
Jo has spent much of the year traveling, particularly enjoying working in
depth with three school systems who are transforming their working patterns
to be highly participatory. Another focus has been on developing ³certified²
facilitators, coaching a dozen people in a provincial government department
to be able to demonstrate their proficiency in ToP methods. Jo went to Reese
Homestead in Iowa twice to plan for its future with her siblings. She is
anticipating a January trip to visit old friends in Australia.
 
Aaron¹s retail housewares company was closed in August by its owner,
allowing him a couple of weeks off at the end of the summer as he first
found another retail manager job, then took a leap to become a travel agent.
He climbs at a climbing gym several times a week, and also did some serious
rock climbing outdoors with friends in the summer.  He moved to an apartment
on his own, calling on his decorating skills to invest it with his own
character. 
 
Tim graduated from Harris Institute for the Arts with a diploma in Music
Engineering and Production in October.  He continues to craft electronic
music in his expanding private production studio in our house, as well as
work part time.   He worked for a contractor this summer, installing drywall
and painting.   He has become fascinated with Norse and Celtic history.
 
This year¹s big project was upgrading the energy efficiency of our house.
This included the installation of a high-efficiency furnace and water
heater, and the renovation of our master bedroom including added insulation,
new drywall, and a large bay window.  The effects, both practical and
aesthetic, are stunning. Our new backyard shed, built in late 2005, has also
added to the ambiance of our tiny backyard ³retreat² space and protects our
bicycles and canoe.
 
Our big family adventure this year was a week¹s trip to Berkeley, CA for
Jo¹s niece¹s wedding. We stayed in a lovely historical hotel, walked miles
and miles, and got to spend lots of joyous time with extended family and
friends.  Aaron¹s friend piloted the men of the family on a tour of the Bay
area in his small plane at sunset.
 
We continue to delight in the global culture of Toronto, where you can dance
at an African music festival, then on the way home celebrate the World Cup
with Pakistanis waving the Italian flag.
  
We have been involved directly with our colleagues in ICA¹s all over the
world this year through facilitating the ICA International meeting, raising
money for the ³Listen to the Drumming² project which supports African ICA¹s
to fight the HIV-AIDS epidemic, training Youth as Facilitative Leaders here
in Canada, and in our ICAI role to coordinate and share ICA facilitator
expertise globally. These experiences have re-energized us as we see that
all together we are making a positive difference in the way people work
together to address the roots of deep human problems on this planet, and we
are profoundly grateful to be a part of it.
 
Pictures of our adventures can be found at
http://picasaweb.google.com/jo.r.nelson/NelsonFamily171206710PM
 
May your New Year be peaceful and fulfilling,  Wayne, Jo, Aaron, and Tim

--
Jo Nelson, CPF, CTF  <jnelson at ica-associates.ca>
Certified Professional Facilitator and ICA Certified ToP Facilitator
ICA Associates, Inc.  655 Queen Street East, Toronto, ON M4M 1G4
Ph. 1 416-691-2316, x230  Toll-free 1 877-691-1422  Fax 1 416-691-2491
Website http://ica-associates.ca
Skype "jofacilitator"

Vendor of Record: Government of Ontario Management Board Secretariat.
Vendor of Record: Organizational Management, Public Works and Government
Services Canada. 


"Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."  Margaret Mead